Notable Apologies

"When I listen to that tape, I don't even know how I can say words like that. ... I don't know why the girl had me say those things. ... I was baited."

— 2014, after being tape-recorded making racial slurs to his alleged mistress

Cyclist Lance Armstrong

"I didn't invent the culture, but I didn't try to stop the culture. And that's my mistake."

— 2013, on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" after many years of denying he used steroids

Golfer Tiger Woods

"I have let my family down, and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect."

— 2010, after admitting to having affairs

Actor Hugh Grant

"I think you know in life what's a good thing to do and what's a bad thing, and I did a bad thing. And there you have it."

— 1995, on "The Tonight Show," after having been arrested on charges he hadsex with a prostitute

Boxer Mike Tyson

"I just snapped ... I apologize to the world, to my family, and to the Nevada state athletic commission "» I apologize to MGM, to Showtime, to Don King my promoter, to my team, to this wonderful city of Las Vegas that has hosted so many fabulous boxing events. "» I only ask that it's not a penalty for life. Evander, I'm sorry. You're a champion. I respect that. I'm only saddened that the fight didn't go on further for that the boxing fans of the world might have seen for themselves who would come out on top. When you butted me in the first round, accidentally or not, I snapped to reaction and the rest is history."

— 1997, after he bit part of Evander Holyfield's ear off

U.S. President Bill Clinton

"Indeed I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong ... I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that."

— 1998, after having sex with a White House intern

Former U.S. Sen.

John Edwards

"In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public."

— 2008, while a candidate for U.S. vice president

Baseball player

Alex Rodriguez

"Back then, it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. "» I did take a banned substance. And for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful."

— 2009, after being caught using steroids

NFL quarterback

Michael Vick

"What I did was horrendous. Awful. Inhumane. And I've no excuses for my actions. It makes my heart hurt now to think about what I've done. And I'm gonna be real honest, it took a while for me to get to this place. Sitting in a prison cell didn't make me feel remorse. It was meeting so many animal lovers, speaking with them and looking them in their eyes. Staring at them. Looking so deep into their eyes that I began to feel their pain."

— 2009, after serving time for dog fighting

U.S. President Richard Nixon

"I regret deeply any injuries that may have been done in the course of the events that led to this decision (to resign the presidency). I would say only that if some of my judgments were wrong, and some were wrong, they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interest of the nation."

— 1972, after Watergate

U.S. President Ronald Reagan

"Now, what should happen when you make a mistake is this: You take your knocks, you learn your lessons, and then you move on. That's the healthiest way to deal with a problem. "» You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes. And if you've lived your life properly — so, you learn. You put things in perspective. You pull your energies together. You change. You go forward."

— 1987, after the Iran-Contra scandal

Television evangelist

Jimmy Swaggart

"I have sinned against You, my Lord, and I would ask that Your Precious Blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgetfulness, not to be remembered against me anymore."